Insulating sealed wall or window panel



July 28, 1959 J. 5. LATENSER INSULATING SEALED WALL 0R wmnow PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1956 July 28, 1959 J. 5. LATENSER INSULATING SEALED WALL OR wmnow PANEL Filed March 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent INSULATING SEALED WALL "OR WINDOW PANEL James S. Latenser,-maha, Nebr.

Application March 1, 1956, Serial No. 568,731

15 Claims. (Cl. 20-.5)

This invention relates to insulated panels and the method of forming same.

The general type of insulated panel with which my invention is concerned is the type consisting of two or more sheets of material spaced apart from each other and sealed around the edges thereof to form a dead-air space therebetween which may be filled with air or gas.

The object of this type of construction is to provide a dead-air space as described which will retard the transfer of heat or cold.

This method of insulating has been found most desirable wherever it is important to reduce heat transfer, for instance and especially in the double-glazed window, because of its greater insulating properties.

Heretofore insulated panels of the type described have been produced by methods employing expensive dies, molds and multitudes of machinery, being most active in the double-glazed window manufacturing industry wherein glass is the material used most extensively. I

In most methods the dead air space must be preformed or formed in the heat softened material by various means such as vacuum molds, hydraulic pressure and the like .which necessitates the use of expensive machinery and dies as above mentioned.

A simple method of the prior art is to seal two spacedapart parallel flat sheets in a heavy frame. The dis advantages are that a specially constructed sash must be made to receive the panel or window and that the seal is likely to leak.

An object of my invention is to provide a process for forming insulated panels not limited to glass as a material but wherein any type of sheet material may be used, such as, Fiberglas, plastics, metallic sheets and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of forming insulated panels which does not require the use of preformed parts or mechanical means for shaping the materials in the process.

Another object of my invention is to provide an insulated panel and process for forming same which does not necessitate the use of heavy equipment, dies or molds, and consequently an insulated panel which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

Another object of my invention is to provide an insulating panel and process for forming same well adapted to be mounted in a sash and advantageous over most prior art patents which require a specially constructed sash.

A further object of my, invention is to provide an insulated panel and process for forming same in which the material is not limited to glass, and the panels may be adapted to any suitable material for providing insulating panels for building walls, partitions, and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide an insulating panel and process for forming same wherein the dead-air space between the side walls of the panel is formed by injecting gas therebetween under pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide an insulating panel in Which the walls are maintained in a spaced apart position by gas pressure.

Another object is to provide inexpensively an insulated panel and a method of forming same having the foregoing advantages.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims. 7

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an insulated panel constructed in accordance with the provisions of this invention; V

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

i Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an edge of the panel showing the disposition of the tube used for in' serting gas into the space between the side walls of the panel;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken the line 4- -4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating another method of sealing the edges of the panel by means of a gasket and a clasping bracket;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section through a modified insulated panel of my invention, said modification providing two dead-air spaces as shown;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of only a portion of the marginal edge of the panel with parts broken away to show the disposition of the tube used for inserting gas into'the spaces between the sheets of the panel; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

With reference to the drawings wherein, like numerals designate like parts in the several views, a complete insulating-panel unit constructed in accordance with my invention is there illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and generally designated by the numeral 10. The insulating panel 10 comprises two oppositely arranged sheets of suitable material 12 and 14. The sheets 12 and 14 may be of any desiredsize and configuration. Before the sheets 12 and 14 are arranged in a face-to-face relationship a groove or depression is drilled, stamped or otherwise provided in the inwardly facing marginal edges of both sheets as shown at 16. The purpose of the grooves 16 is to, receive a tube for admitting gases to the unit during the steps of separating the sheets 12 and 14, as will be later described. v Qf After the sheets 12 and 14 are arranged in a face-toface relationship the inwardly facing marginal edges are along welded or bonded together by any suitable means, as

Referring to Fig. ,6, another method of sealing the edges, of the sheets 12 and 14 is there shown and comprises a;

spacer 20 which may beof rubber or any suitable material which seals the space between the sheets 12 and 14 and is held clamped in a U-shapedcontinuous frame.

of any desiredmateriala When the sheets have been properly welded or bonded together at the marginal edges, they are then spaced apart or separated by the method now to be described.

A filler tube 24 is connected by a coupling 26 to a source of pressurized'gas, for instance apipe or conduit 28. The tube is inserted into the groove 16. v Gas is introduced through the tube 24, into the space between the sheets 12 and 14 whereby the sheets 12 and 14 are forced apart by internal pressure. I V I, The gas pressure inserted into the space between the sheets 12 and 14 forces the sheets to bendor bow out wardly at their center portions to hold the sheets 12 and 14 apart, resulting in the provision of a dead-air space or insulating space 30 between the sheets 12 and'14.

g The tube 24 may be bonded or otherwise sealed in the edges of the sheets 12 and 14 at the time the edges are welded or bonded. p v,

If the tube 24 is bonded into the edges of the sheets 12 and 14 the conduit 28 is removed from the tube 24 and the tube 24 is sealed by suitable means to prevent escape ofthe gas. p L

It is to be understood that the tube 24 couldalso be inserted into the opening or groove 16 and withdrawn after gas had been inserted between the sheets 12 and 14,

After insertion of the gas the tube 24 would be removed and the opening or groove 16 sealed off to prevent escape ofthegas.

As thus described, it will be seen that separation of the sheets 12 and 14 is accomplished by the insertion of gas under pressure and the sheets are forced apart at their center portions by internal pressure to a point whereby the sheets 12 and 14 are forced apart sufficiently to provide a dead-air space. The dead-air space between the sheets 12 and 14 is maintained by the gas pressure or by the deformation of the material or by both in combination. v V r Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, there is shown a modification of the insulated panel of my invention. Like numerals will be used to designate comparable parts described above and two oppositely arranged sheets of suitable material are indicated at 12 and l4. However, with reference to Figure 7 it will be seen that a third sheet of material 40 is centered between the sheets 12 and 14 and the inwardly facing marginal edges of each of the sheets 12 and 14 are fused or otherwise bonded to the respectively outwardly facing marginal edge of the center sheet 40 in an air tight relationship. I H V H It will be seen that the center sheet 40 provides a separator or partition wall.

The gas is inserted into the space between-the sheet 12 and center sheet 40 and the space between the sheet 14 and center sheet 40 in the same manner as in the above described panel and that is by using a tube 24 connected to a conduit 28 which latter is connected to a source of pressurized gas (not shown). 7 L v "M In order that each of the spaces receive equal amounts of gas and pressure an elongated slot 46 is provided in the center section 40 forreceivingthetube 24.

The slot 46 is disposed at any desired point along the edge of the center sheet 40 and extends inwardly therefrom a sufficient distance so that the inner open end of tube 24 extends beyond the marginal weld or bond 18 and adjacent to but not touching the end of the slot 46. This is best seen in Figures 8 and 9.

. As best seen in Figures 8 and 9,- the tube 24 may be sealed in the slot 46 by means of any suitable bonding material indicated by the numeral 50.

, In accordance with my technique in separating the sheets to form dead-air spaces therebetween, pressurized gas flows through the conduit 28 and the tube 24. Now it will be seen that the inner end of the tube does not touch the end of the slot 46 and the tube seal 50 does not extend beyond the end of the tube 24. Therefore the in-flowing gas is free to escape outwardly of the slot 46 in two directions into the space between the sheet 12 and the center sheet 40 and the space between the sheet 14 and the center section 40 as best illustrated in Figure 9 by arrows 52 and 54.

The slot opening 46 allows gas to flow into each of the respective spaces as above described and provides a means for equalizing the gas and pressure in the respective space so that the center sheet 40 has equal gas pressure on both of its side positions and as the pressure is raised the sheets 12 and 14 are forced outwardly away from their positions adjacent the faces of the center sheet into a bowed shape as best illustrated in Figure 7 whereby two dead-air spaces 42 and 44 are provided.

After enough pressure has been inserted into the spaces 42 and 44 to force the sheets 12 and 14 away from the center sheet 40 sufficiently to cause deformation of said sheets, the gas is shut off and the tube is sealed off by any suitable means to prevent escape of the gas. 7 However, if the tube is not sealed into the marginal edge of the unit, but is instead introduced into the slot only at times when the gas is being inserted into the spaces 42 and 44 it may be removed after a sufiicient amount of gas has been inserted and the slot 46 is then sealed 01f to prevent escape of gas. 7

According to the construction of the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, it is obvious that two dead-air spaces or chambers areprovided in the unit so that connectional and more effective insulation is obtained than with two sheets. From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an insulating sealed 'wall or window panel constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled andoperated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim: V p

L The method of forming insulated panel units which comprises the arranging of two pieces of normally flat sheet material in face-to-face relationship with each other and sealing the marginal edge portions of said pieces together in an airtight relationship with access me ans extending between the inner edges of said pieces, the n inserting a gas under pressure through said access means into the space between said pieces suffieiently to bend the center portions of said pieces and to force said pieces into gradually curving arcuateshapes by gas pressure apart at their center portions to provide an insulating space between said pieces, then sealing said access means to retain said gas. v p

2. The method of claim 1 in which s'uflicient of said gas is inserted into said space to force said pieces to bend beyond a yield point and to produce a permanent deformation and in which the material of said pieces is of a nature permitting permanent deformation under gas pressure without failure of the pieces.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said access means comprises a tube extending between said pieces at said sealed edge portions. I

4. An insulated panel unit comprising two pieces of normally fiat sheet material disposed in face-to-face relationship with each othenmeans for sealing the marginal edge portions of said pieces together in an airtight relationship, and a gas disposed between said pieces under sufficient pressure to cause said pieces to bow outwardly at their center portions and to hold said pieces in spaced apart relationship at their center portions for providing an insulating space between said pieces.

5. The unit of claim 4 in which sai d pieces are sealed by bonding material of a nature other than the material of said pieces disposed between their edge portions.

6. The unit of claim 4 in which said pieces are of glass.

7. The unit of claim 4 in which said pieces are of sheet plastic material.

8. The unit of claim 4 in which said pieces are of nonmetallic material.

9. The unit of claim 4 in which said pieces are of Fiberglas.

10. The unit of claim 4 in which said pieces are formed of sheet metal.

11. An insulated panel unit comprising two pieces of normally flat sheet material disposed in face-to-face relationship with each other, means for sealing the marginal edge portions of said pieces together in an airtight relationship, and access means disposed between the sealed edge portions of said pieces, said access means being for the insertion of gas into the space between center portions of said pieces, the natural positions of said pieces being substantially in contact, and a gas between said pieces under suflicient pressure to cause said pieces to bow outwardly at their center portions and to hold said pieces in spaced apart relationship at their center portions for providing an insulating space between said pieces, and means in said access means for sealing said access means to prevent the escape of said gas therefrom.

12. The unit of claim 11 in which said sheet metal.

13. The unit of claim 11 in which said pieces are of non-metallic material.

14. The unit of claim 11 in which said access means are permanently formed grooves or depressions.

15. The unit of claim 11 in which said access means is temporarily formed by displacement of sheet material at its outer edges.

pieces are of References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,092 Roach-Cuming July 17, 1923 2,564,656 Chedister Aug. 21, 1951 2,624,978 Hohmann Jan. 13, 1953 2,756,467 Etling July 31, 1956 

